Laundry apparatus



IVI. J. FLEVIING.

LAUNDRY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7. 1920.

Patented Oct. 18, 192i.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M. 1. FLEIVIING.

LAUNDRY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY II. 1920.

1,394,159. Pand 001. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Iligff.

UNITED STATES YPATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN J', FLEMING, 0E INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

LAUNDRY APPARATiJs.

household.

The accompanying drawings illustrateniy invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation 1n I partial vertical section, of an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fi 3; Fig 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a plan; Fig. 5 afragmentary section of the main frame; and Fig. 6 a detail.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a main tablelike frame, having a width somewhat less than theA ordinary doorway, and a length somewhat greater than necessary to support two ordinary wash tubs, indicated by dotted lines 11. The table, or frame, 10, is conveniently of' a skeleton metal construction,

. and at its middle supportsa tubular column 12, which supports an electric motor 13 at its.

upper end. At the lower end ofcolumn 12 is a casting 14, having an arm 15 projected up into the'column 12, said casting and arm carrying two shaft bearings 16 and 17, in which is journaled a main drive vshaft 18, which extends through the column and is provided at its upper end with a gear 19, `meshing with a worm 20, on the shaft 21 of motor 13. At an intermediate point; shaft 18 is provided with a pinion 22 which is projected through an opening 23 in the side of the column. Meshing with pinion 23 are 'l the internalteeth ofy a gear ring 24, to which is secured a bearing sleeve 25 and a retainer :ring 26, the bearingring 25 being journaled upon a .collar 27 column 12.

Swiveled upon vertically adjustable collars 30 mounted on column 12 is an imple* ment carrier 31 upon which is pivotally supvertically adjustable on ported a washer supporting arm 33, pivoted at 34. Also swiveled upon column 12 .is an implement carrier 31 which-carnes a wrlnger 32, the arrangement being such that the carriers 31 and 31A may ybe independently swiveled aboutv the column 12, so that when the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 17,v

Patented Oct. 18, 1921. 1920. serial No. 351,972.

washer supporting arm 33 is projected from one of the tubs, the wringer 32 may be swung tol an intermediate position between two adjacent tubs, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The wringer 32 is to be driven-from the gear ring 24 and, therefore, this ring is provided with external teeth which mesh with a gear 35, carried at the lower end of shaft 36, journaled in carrier 31. Any suitable `connection between shaft 36 and one of the wringer shafts may be adopted. In the present form, the lower wringer shaft carries a bevel gear 37 which is constantly in mesh with two bevel gears 38 and 39, journaled on shaft 36, and each provided with common clutch teeth capable of co-acting with a clutch collar 40, splined upon shaft 36, and shiftable into engagement with one or the other of 'gears 38 and 39, or to an intermediate position.

Arm 33 carries, at its outer end, any suitable washing device, the reciprocatory stirrer `41 being Vshown merely as one form which may be adopted. J ournaled on arm 33 is a gear 42 capable of meshing with the external teeth of ring 24, being thrown into and out of mesh by a swinging movement of arm 33, as indicated in Fig. 1. A suitable connection 43 connects I gear 42 with the washer apparatus 41.

Ordinarily, two tubs are not sufficient for the proper and convenient handling of a wash, and, therefore, I hinge, aty each side of table 10, mid-way of the length, a folding shelf or supplemental table 50, provided at its outer end with a leg 51, hinged at 52, so that the parts may be folded, as indicated in Fig. 5, being held in folded condition by al bearings 64, in frame 10, beneath the work table Surface.

It is desirable that the operator be able to apply heat to any one of the tubs which may be supported by table 10 and the supplemental shelves 50 and, therefore, casting'14 is provided with a depending .finger 70, which is preferably arranged in the axis of column 12. Upon this nger 70, I swivel a` gas pipe 7l and lead to this pipe a supply pipe '72. Pipe 7l is provided at its outer end with a burner 7 3 and is of suiiicient length to bring the burner 73 beneath any one of the tubs 11.

10 connected to said shaft when desired.

I claim as my invention:

l. A laundry apparatus comprising a main frame adapted to support a plurality of tubs, a central column supported by said frame, a laundry implement swiveled upon said column and movable into cooperative relationship with the tubs supported by the main frame, a gear ring journaled upon the column and provided with internal and external teeth, a transmission train between the external teeth of said gear ring and the laundry implement and a driving train connected to the internal teeth of the gearl ring.

2. A. laundry apparatus comprisin a tub support, a hollow column Supported t ereby, a gear ring journaled lon the column and provided with internal and external teeth, a driving shaft j ournaled within the column and provided with a gear meshing with the internal teeth of the gear ring, an implement carrier on the column, a laundry implement carried by said carrier, and driving connections between said implement and the external teeth of the gear ring.

ln witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand at indianapolis, Indiana, this fourteenth day of May, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty.

MELVlN J. FLEMlNG. 

